During a press conference today to announce a deactivation package to help fight the opioid crisis, state Rep. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, collapsed at the Fort Myers office of the United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee counties and had to be transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

Rodrigues was recovering and going through a series of tests, but said he felt fine. “I think they are going to find I was dehydrated,” Rodrigues said from the hospital.

Rodrigues was standing with a group of people during the announcement that 10,000 deactivation packages for dangerous prescription drugs were being distributed by the United Way to partner agencies. Suddenly, he started to walk away, hit the table where the microphone was located, appeared to become disoriented and started to fall. Several people, including state Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers; state Rep. Dane Eagle, R-Cape Coral, Lee County Undersheriff Carmine Marceno and United Way president Cliff Smith rushed to his aid and helped him into a chair.

“I just felt dizzy and needed to sit down,” Rodrigues said.

Rodrigues said he had been sick for most of the week and was running a fever.

Paramedics and emergency medical technicians were called and began treatment before taking Rodrigues to the ambulance.